The Japs in Australia.

Hastings Standard, Issue 105, 27 August 1896, Page 4

The Japs in Australia.

Japanese immigration has become a matter of serious alarm in Queensland. There seems to be a dread that this energetic and enterprising race will overrun the colony, and exercise a sort of peaceable annexation. There is good reason, however, to believe, says the Leader, that these fears arc overstrained. Much has been said concerning a -Japanese appropriation of the northern pearl fisheries, and the assertion has been made that they were gradually becoming the owners of most of the boats. But officials statistics are less alarming. The number of boats, owned by -Japanese is two, and of the 237 boats employed in the trade, the number licensed "by aliens is under 80 per cent. Many of the divers are Japanese, but otherwise they do not appear extremely prominent. It is of some interest to learn the aspect in which the Japanese themselves are inclined to regard Australian exclusiveness. The resolutions carried at the Premier's conference have been published in the Japanese newspapers, and an enterprising journalist has sought to obtain an insight into the Ministerial mind upon the subject. Although Japanesediginity is injured by the inclusion of the nation in the same category as the Chinese, the industrial features of this immigration problem are admitted to present some features of difficulty. The Colonial Minister acknowledged that our working classes cannot be blamed for looking after their own interests, and he indicated that no objection would be raised to shutting out Japanese labor " under contract." But a general poll-tax directed against Japanese would effectually dispose of any hope of utilising Japan as a market for our raw material. " The Japanese Government," said the Minister, " will not have a favorable impression of the colonies if they put absolute and sweeping restrictions upon the introduction of Japanese immigrants.' However undesirable it may be to offend a friendly nation, the matter is one of too dangerous concern to our national existence to permit unchallenged scope of alien emigration. A hint is given that a good many Japanese intend to go to British New Guinea. The difficulty is one which will trouble statesmanship in the future.